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You have seen it any number of times on your journey through the career path of life. You have a business, which appears to be thriving. The location is perfect. The marketed item or service is in high demand. The salaries are at the high end of the spectrum. The benefit package is generous. Yet somehow, the employee retention rate is horrible and the moral of the staff is pathetic.

So, what is the kicker? Usually, it is a boss with poor communication skills. Here is a list of the most common problems, how they can negatively impact (yes, I know rules of grammar dictate I should say influence rather than impact, but I think impact drives the point home better) your bottom line, and what you can do about it.

1. Use email to communicate problems.

A person who loathes confrontation or is just mean spirited utilizes this technique. If it is the former, you are better off. This manager is so concerned with your feelings, and how you will react, that he will send ten emails to avoid a one-minute face-to-face meeting that may be uncomfortable. Typically, this manager is someone who has come up the ranks through a process of the attrition of others. Truth be told, he probably does not want the responsibility of leadership at all.

The second user of email for bad news is more along the lines of the anonymous postal bomber. He will intentionally save your bad news email until just before close of business on Friday, in an effort to sour your weekend. NEVER open anything from this guy on a three-day weekend. Destroying something like that would be coup-de-gras for this turkey.

Whatever, the motivation it is a rotten thing to do. If you want to be, or continue to be an effective manager who communicates well, don’t do it. If you have managers in your employ, don’t allow them to do it.

Write out the bad news you want to communicate. Eliminate as much negative as you can, add a positive spin, and do it face to face.

What is the monetary payback? The answer is two-fold: 1) your employee retention rate will increase. 2) You recruitment efforts will meet with quicker success.

2. Berate the group for the sins of the one.

How many meetings have you been in where a less than effective manager spent over an hour preaching about the importance of professionalism when it comes to dress code? All the while you know the whole meeting is about Edna, in receiving and her circa 1970 orange and green tube top.

If there is an issue with staff it is the responsibility of leadership to take it up with the staff individually. It may not be fun, but it is justification for the “big bucks.”

Where is the payback? You guessed it. Retention and recruitment expenditures will continue to decrease.

3. Roll problems downhill.

I believe this to be one of the cardinal sins of leadership. I have been in enumerable situations when, either due to market changes or poor management, productivity and efficiency falter. At the point, the ineffective communicator brings the staff together and berates them for the short falling.

Having spent several years in the military in one form or another there are many things I would like to forget. However, there is one adage that I hope to always remember, and it is:
You can delegate authority.
You can not delegate responsibility.

It does not matter if you gave Maggie the Anderson account to rework. If it sucks, at the end of the day it is still your fault.

When down-trends inevitably occur, eat your share of the elephant.

The pay back here will also be reflected in another aspect. Absenteeism will drop significantly. As a result, productivity will increase.

4. Correct a subordinate in public.

This piece of common sense may be the most uncommon of all.

The manager who commits this atrocity is somewhat similar to the “email bomber.” He is either a jerk, in which case he is much too volatile to entrust your financial and professional well being. Or he is a hot head and is unsuitable for leadership for the same reason.

If you have a “brain fart” and make this mistake, man up and apologize in just as public a forum as when the offence was committed.

“Where’s the financial beef?” This may be the most expensive communications breakdown of all. Can you say, “Hostile work environment?” Can you say, “Harassment?” Trust me on this one folks, the good ole’ U.S. of A. is not called the “litigation nation” without cause.

5. Fail to acknowledge a persons effort.

The ineffective communicator takes the effort of others for granted. He figures he puts in 70 hours per week so, why shouldn’t everybody else?

When “Big Ed” misses his kids’ Tball game to finish up the plans for project management, make a big deal!

I hate to quote Carnegie, but right is right. “Be hearty (or is it hardy?) in your approbation, and lavish in your praise.”

Why? Happy and appreciated workers are productive workers. Appreciated clients and customers come back.

So, can I wrap this up in a little bow draped package for you? I think so.

Statistically speaking, one of the greatest expenses in conducting operations is the recruitment and training of new personnel. One of the biggest challenges is attracting and retaining clientèle. One of the most effective, least expensive ways to accomplish this is through good communication techniques.

Here is a little epiphany. Put these strategies on a little checklist and review it to see how well you met the objectives at the beginning and end of each day.

So, implement a little communications training and put the money saved toward your vacation in Fiji. Or, just send it to me.

The post is a cheat sheet for those who write for or in the business community. It is basically an overview of the most common mistakes made, which vary from the standard. I keep a hard copy nearby to remind me that the only impression many people have of me comes from the written material they read.
Extremely Serious Deviations From the Standard:

1. Incorrect verb forms (”he brung,” “he was,” he don’t”).
2. Double negatives.
3. Sentence fragments.
4. Subjects in the objective case (”Him and Jones are going”).
5. Fused sentences (”He loved his job he never took holidays”).
6. Failure to capitalize proper names, especially those referring to people and places.
7. A comma between the verb and complement of the sentence. E.g., (”Cox cannot predict, that street crime will diminish”).

Serious Deviations From Standard:

1. Faculty parallelism.
2. Subject-verb disagreement.
3. Adjectives used to modify verbs (”He treats his men bad”).
4. Not marking interrupters such as “However” with comma.
5. Subjective pronouns used for objects (”The Army sent my husband and I to Japan”).
6. Confusion of the verbs “sit” and “set”.

Moderate Deviations From Standard:

1. Tense shifting.
2. Dangling modifiers.
3. Failure to use quotation marks around quoted material.
4. Plural modifier with a singular noun (”These kind”).
5. Omitting commas in a series.
6. Faulty predication (”The policy intimidates applications”).
7. Ambiguous use of “which.”
8. Objective form of a pronoun used as a subjective complement (”That is her across the street”).
9. Confusion of the verbs “affect” and “effect.”

Minor Lapses From Standard:

1. Failure to distinguish between “whoever” and whomever.”
2. Omitting commas to set off interrupting phrases such as appositives.
3. Joining independent clauses with a comma; that is, a comma splice.
4. Confusion of “its” and it’s”.
5. Failure to use the possessive form before a gerund (”The company objects to us hiring new salespeople”).
6. Failure to distinguish between “among” and “between.”

Insignificant Lapses From Standard:

1. A qualifying word used before “unique” (That is the most unique plan we have seen”).
2. “They” used to refer to a singular pronoun (”Everyone knows they will have to go”).
3. Omitting a comma after an introductory clause.
4. Singular verb form used with “data” (”The data is significant”).
5. Linking verb followed by “when” (”The problem is when patients refuse to cooperate”).
6. Using a pronoun “that” to refer to people.
7. Using a colon after a linking verb (”The causes of the decline are: inflation, apathy, and unemployment”).

The good news is, a good word processing program will catch most of these while you are still in draft form.

I have always been a big coffee drinker. I like my coffee dark, strong, all day long and without leotards. In fact, my large mug and omnipresent big green steel Thermos are closely associated with my identity by my friends and those who have brought me on as a consultant or a behavior counselor.

In fact, this has been so much the case that for many years the gifts I have received from family, colleagues and clients have had a strong showing in the ground coffee area. I have gotten pound bags of various grinds of coffee from Brazil, Central America, East Africa, Malaysia and Indonesia. Basically any place the environment is anything close to tropical.

For the most part, they’re all pretty good. In other words, as long as it is coffee, large, no cream, no sugar I don’t care where it comes from. Coffee is coffee. A good cup of coffee (read strong and hot) doesn’t need cream and sugar. A bad cup of coffee (weak and/or cold) isn’t helped by cream or sugar.

So, I was somewhat dismayed when gradually over that last several years I have been receiving more gift certificates (and lately gift cards) from coffee bars like Starbucks. They look at me funny when I order.

It typically goes something like this.

Me: “Large coffee to go.”

Them: ”Will that be venti, then?”

Me: “What?”

Them: “Tall, Grande, or Venti?”

Me: “What?”

Them: “Would you like Tall, Grande, or Venti?”

Me: “Which of those is a large coffee to go?”

Them: “What?”

Me: “What?”

You can see how that exchange isn’t necessarily conducive to effective communication and can lead to fundamental social problems in a multicultural society.

But, not being one to be daunted by adversity I called on some past experiences for direction. You see, while I was in the military the army sent me to Japan for a brief tour of duty. In order to navigate there I utilized a common phrase book. And with a lot of smiles and gestures was able to survive without too much difficulty.

So, I found a phrase booklet that addresses the “barista-speak” common to upwardly mobile coffee bars. After much tedious study and perusal I have identified the appropriate phraseology to secure my desired beverage.

Here goes, “I’d like to have a Venti, House Blend, With Legs.”

How lame is that? I’m going to McDonald’s.

Yesterday I conducted the first half of a two day seminar on the unique ways in which male students and staff members can be motivated, instructed and trained. It is a field I have worked in for many years and I have a fair amount of knowledge on the subject. None the less I always build my trainings in layers and yesterday is a prime example of why.

Before I conduct a presentation I like to know the facility and the surrounding community resources as well as I can. It is not uncommon that I will visit an area where I will be presenting days or weeks in advance.  And it is unheard of that I am not on site 90 minutes before a presentation is to commence.

This gives me the opportunity to check out the technology and make any physical adjustments to the room that will make interaction more geared to whole group participation than buddy talking and side conversations. In fact, though most facilities are all too happy to provide the technology I need, I always prefer to use my own even though that requires me to transport and set more equipment.

Yesterday, I made the mistake of using the on-site technology.

This particular segment of the seminar relies heavily on supplemental video materials. One section runs directly from a video file on my laptop. One section is recorded on a VCR tape. One segment is streaming video from and Internet down link.

Each piece of the on-site technology failed. The file from my laptop media player was incompatible with the media driver on the site equipment. None of the VCR machines on site was functional. The firewall on site precluded access to the streaming video.

This could have been a recipe for a very poor seminar, and since such are my bread and butter that is something I simply can’t have.

On this particular junket I had several individuals with me who were learning the training in order to be able to conduct it themselves. This is the only reason I agreed to use on site equipment.

At each stumbling block I was able to send one of those trainers to my vehicle to pick up my piece of redundant technology, while I elaborated on a previous concept, summarized or took field questions. As a result the participants never knew there where technological difficulties, and the training was very well received.

The message being two-fold:

One, always rely on your own technology when your reputation is on the line.

Two, never go into a situation without at least two back up plans.

I have some questions for those who are reading Elemental Truths today. And I have a request to accompany it.

First the question.

Do you believe personal and professional growth should be painless?

Our muscles are always sore after we push ourselves at the gym (if memory serves). Growing our minds is usually no less uncomfortable.

Now my request.

I am putting together a collection of stories about growth from challenge and would greatly appreciate any personal experiences you would be willing to share with me. I plan to use this collection as a motivational tool for those I work with.

Don’t worry if your story is not dramatic. If you have experienced professional or personal discomfort and grown as a result, I want to hear about it. And so does everyone else who ever found themselves in similar circumstances.

Share in comments section or send a direct email to me at regadkins@gmail.com

I hope you find Elemental Truths a useful resource and will add it to your blog reader.

In in 1986 Unitarian Minister Robert Fulghum wrote a book titled “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.” The book stayed on the New York Times Best Sellers List for 2 years.

The basic premise of the book (which is a collection of essays) can be stated as “live a balanced life.”

This may be the most profound book on personal and professional development ever written and every personal and profession trainer, consultant and success coach should read the first essay at the very least.

The tenets of the title essay are that every day we should:

• share
• be kind to one another
• clean up after yourself
• work
• play
• learn

It is about the best recipe for personal and organizational growth I’ve ever seen.

Sometimes simple is best

Reg Adkins writes on behavior and the human condition at www.elementaltruths.com

Are you familiar with the phrase “a mile wide and an inch deep”?

In the past years I have been encountering a phenomena in the leadership of many organizations. The leaders have a broad and wide range of passing familiarity with many concepts but they lack depth in any of those concepts. As a result of attempting to lead with only surface knowledge they find themselves in dire straits (great musical group by the way) when application requires depth of expertise.

The strange thing is we as a population have more access to in-depth information on most any than every before. Yet, many leaders satisfy themselves with awareness of the highlights and buzzwords of a concept.

I admit I am a fan the recently antiquated philosophy of Knowledge for Knowledge’s Sake. In fact I wrote an article about it on Rosa Say’s excellent site Joyful Jubilant Learning. But, this goes beyond that concept to shine a light on some critical areas of knowledge deficiency in leadership. While the chapter headings for John Maxwell’s 360 Degree Leader may be embraced the core philosophy of owning leadership is never really embraced.

The only explanation that I find that gives me any satisfaction ironically comes from a fiction book, The Last Angry Man (written Gerald Green sometime in the early 1980’s). The main character, an on the way out “pitch man” focuses a literary lens on the life Brooklyn doctor. In one section of the book the main character is struck by how all the passengers on the train are like junkies “jonesing” for an information fix by of snatches of headlines, billboards, radio commercials, but never anything of substance.

It seems many are looking for a quick information “fix” rather than seeking learning which provides deeper meaning.

At times when I am working on a piece of writing I find myself casting about for just the write word to communicate what I want to say.  Sometimes it feels as if I have reached and actual physical impass. An obstacle over which I must clambor.

One of the strategies I use is to reach back into time and bring forward a more primative word. I find I use greek and latin with equal frequency. But, on the occaision that I need to communicate the essence of a particularly powerful feeling or a concept steeped in emotion, nothing so strikes the mark as the Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon.

bazah = dispised

chdal = rejected

mak’obot = severe pain

choli = injuries

daka = utterly crushed

‘awon = moral evils

musar = discipline/correction

rapa’ = mend/cure

derakim = directions

tame’ = leagal impurity/unclean

Some time ago I wrote a post about what to say if your boss catches you sleeping at work. It was fairly popular so I decided to add five new tactics to the list and re-post the originals.

Besides, it’s Wednesday and I wanted to have a little fun.

1. Oh, could you help me look for my contact lens?

2. I may not do much, but I’m highly employable because I don’t leave a paper trail.

3. I guess that’s what happens when you get here at 5 a.m.

Alternately, you may avoid being caught by…

4. Letting your bangs grow really long.

5. Wear sunglasses and face toward the window.

The original list follows in a count down to number 1.

5. “They told me at the Blood Bank this might happen.”

4. “This is just a 15 minute power nap they raved about in the time management course you sent me to.”

3.”Whew! Guess I left the top off the Whiteout. You probably got here just in time.”

2.”Did you ever notice the sound coming out of these keyboards when you put your ear down real close?”

1. And the NUMBER ONE best thing to say if you get caught sleeping at your desk…

Raise your head slowly and say,” …In Jesus’ name,Amen.”

Reg Adkins writes on behavior and the human condition at Elemental Truths.

Remember, add Elemental Truths to your blog reader.

As a personal and professional development consultant it behooves me to provide equal high quality service to any in need. I feel it is my duty to embrace the mission for success for any who seek out my assistance.

Since I do everything in my power to provide support regardless of race, creed or religious affiliation it is only fair that I provide the same quality nudges to the least loved and appreciated of groups…yes, I mean those who have come to be known as the “Impervious Uber Villains.”

Is there a collective group more in need of follow through assistance than this?

How many times have you seen an Impervious Uber Villain on the very verge of fulfilling his plans of ultimate domination only to be utterly underdone by seeking out the distraction of instant gratification? Or by becoming so engrossed in the big pictures so as to neglect the all important foundational details. It is tragic in and of itself.

I have therefor taken it upon myself to put together the following list of gentle nudges toward the accomplishment of Uber Villainous Plan Realization Techniques.

1. Give careful consideration to the uniform design of your evil minions. You see, it is all to easy to get caught up in the flash of face visors which conceal the identities of those wearing them. Do not permit your minions to cover their faces with these devices in your presences lest you find yourself unknowingly turning your back to the very hero you deposed to assume your position of Impervious Uber Villain.

2. When you have captured your mortal enemy, shoot him. Don’t devise clever and complicated means by which to bring about his ultimate demise. Don’t throw him into the rapids from which “no one could possibly survive.” Don’t throw him over a waterfall from which “no one could possibly survive.” Don’t drop him into a pit with squirming venomous snakes from which “no one could possibly survive.” Invest some of your ill gotten gains into some quality ammunition and SHOOT HIM!

3. If you decide to employ a digital countdown device to detonate your dooms day device, don’t set it to go off at zero. The hero will inevitably reach the device just before zero clicks over. Instead, set the timer to detonate at a minute and 17 seconds. Imagine the look of surprise on the heroes face when he reaches the count down chamber and gets blown away a minute and a quarter ahead of schedule.

4. No matter how irresistible the urge, you must never construct a doomsday device that is complete impervious to attack except for one tiny weak spot no bigger than a manhole, which if struck will immediately and completely bring about the total destruction of your doomsday device. Just don’t.

5. Never employ henchmen who take sadistic pleasure in the torture of others. It never fails that while these sadomasochistic are toying with their prey, exchanging blow for blow they fritter away the hard won advantage you worked so diligently to secure. It simply isn’t good management. Instead, hire a cranky post menopausal food service worker who can’t be bothered with witty repartee that will quickly shot him thus eliminating the threat in short order.

One bonus tip. Go immediately and hire Seth Godin to be your PR man. Even the terms Idea Virus and Squidoo Lens ready made for Uber Villain employment. I mean the visual images they conjure up have enough intimidation factor to pay for his fee. Plus, he’s got that way cool Lex Luther thing going on with the shaved head and all.

All in all, personal and professional consulting for the Uber Villains among us seems to be a vastly unexploited market.